Countdown on for fastest wheelchair world record attempt

29 October 2018

Author: The Greenpower Team

In non-Greenpower, electric vehicle news; self-confessed adrenaline-junkie Jason Liversidge, who is living with motor neurone disease (MND), is set to take on his fastest challenge to date as he attempts to break the Guinness world record for the fastest ride in an electric wheelchair.

The 42 year old has scaled Mount Snowdon in his wheelchair, abseiled off the Humber Bridge and plunged into the largest cave system in the country in a specially adapted harness, all for charity.

Jason, who was diagnosed with MND in August 2013 and been confined to a wheelchair since January 2016, has worked closely with engineering experts to design and build a wheelchair which he believes will smash through the current world speed record of 55mph. The record attempt was scheduled to take place at Elvington Airfield near York under the watchful eye of British Timing Association officials, safety experts and engineers on October 26, the attempt was postponed due to high winds but the team are working on making the wheelchair more stable.

The bespoke chair has been designed specifically for Jason’s world record attempt by a team specialising in electric vehicles. It features a professional racing seat, five point safety harness and professional karting tyres. With very limited movement as a result of his disease, Jason will steer the wheelchair, accelerate and brake using a joystick.

The record is for the time to complete a standing mile – the top speed will be recorded over the last 60 feet of the track.

Watching on will be Jason’s family, from Rise in East Yorkshire including wife, Liz and daughters Lilly, 7, and Poppy, 5.

As well as hoping to claim the world record, Jason’s daredevil attempt will be raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on improving access to care, research and campaigning for those people living with or affected by MND.

Liz said: “Jason has always been an adrenaline junkie – he loved skiing, grass-tracking, fast cars and even faster motorbikes. Really nothing has changed except that his body can no longer keep up with his mind. More than five years after his diagnosis he is still as determined as ever to keep on living life to the full. For him that means spending time with me and the girls, making memories and being the best Dad he can be by teaching them that no matter what life throws at you, you should never give up.

“Of course we realise the record attempt comes with risks and Jason certainly hasn’t undertaken this lightly. He’s been preparing for it for months and we have a team we totally trust working with us on building the wheelchair and providing all the safety advice. Driving anything at speed is not without risk but arguably it isn’t any more risky than riding a motorbike.”